The empress is both charming and seductive, rising through the ranks of palace intrigue.

Consort Zhuang, who had been rubbing her temples, suddenly froze, her expression changing abruptly. She raised her eyes and glared at Yulan: "Am I confused? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Yulan stammered, her brow furrowed, "It's...it really is Her Majesty."

Consort Zhuang's brow twitched, and her beautiful, lotus-like face paled as if she had been greatly shocked and angered. She quickly threw off the covers and rushed out like the wind.

"Your Majesty, it's cold outside."

As soon as Yulan finished speaking and took off her cloak, she saw Consort Zhuang, dressed in her nightgown, walk out in a fit of rage, and the hall was empty.

Consort Zhuang looked at Lü Rui, who was standing in the courtyard carrying a package, and quickly bowed, saying, "This servant greets Your Highness."

Consort Zhuang glared at her angrily: "I want to hear you say it with my own ears, did you seduce the Emperor?"

Green Bud immediately bowed to the ground: "This servant did not, His Majesty's favor towards this servant was an accident."

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhuang was so angry that she froze, her heart burning with rage.

With a "smack," a slap landed on Green Bud's face.

"You shameless hussy, I ordered you to keep an eye on Ning Shi, and you dared to seduce the Emperor."

As she spoke, she slapped Lü Rui across the face again. Under the dim yellow light, her face was still visibly red and swollen, with a trace of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Yulan came out and saw this scene, but dared not approach for a moment, clutching her cloak tightly. Standing behind, she whispered, "Your Highness, be careful, walls may have ears."

Consort Zhuang snorted coldly, panting heavily, her face flushed as if on fire: "This slut dares to climb into my bed, what am I afraid of? I was truly blind to have chosen you to go to Lan Yue Pavilion."

Green Bud felt a sharp pain in her cheek and a ringing in her ears. Knowing how formidable Consort Zhuang was, she feared that if she didn't submit, she would die in Yihe Palace. She quickly kowtowed, "Your Majesty, this servant knows her mistake, this servant..."

"Expel her from my Yihe Palace!"

Consort Zhuang gave her no chance to explain, and roared out like a raging tiger.

The eunuch beside her quickly led Green Bud away.

Green Bud struggled and cried out until the gate was closed, at which point Consort Zhuang turned around.

If it weren't for the fact that Uncle Lürui was a distant relative, she would have torn Lürui apart today.

Consort Zhuang never expected that despite all her precautions, her own people would still end up in the Emperor's bed. All the palace maids in her palace were of average appearance, precisely to prevent the Emperor from taking a liking to them.

To her surprise, the person she had trained seduced the emperor and even moved into her palace. How could she tolerate this?

And the Emperor! He actually arranged for Lü Rui to come to his palace, sending her over without saying a word. What exactly does the Emperor mean by this?!

Thinking of this, Consort Zhuang was so angry that she couldn't sleep all night.

Inside Zhaochen Palace, Ning Shuyan simply slept in Xiao Yu's arms, knowing she would return to the palace at the appointed time.

Ning Shuyan carefully moved Xiao Yu's hand away, and was about to get up when Xiao Yu's hand was tightly wrapped around her.

Xiao Yu's voice was somewhat languid, yet his tone was domineering: "Sleep!"

Ning Shuyan turned her head and looked directly at him: "Your Majesty has forgotten that it is time for me to return to the palace."

Xiao Yu tightened his grip on her, holding Ning Shuyan firmly in his arms: "You're not allowed to go back."

When Xiao Yu carried her to Zhaochen Palace, Ning Shuyan realized that she wouldn't be able to sleep for long. Could it be that the Emperor wanted her to stay overnight?

Ning Shuyan was still somewhat surprised when Xiao Yu actually said those words. She knew that Xiao Yu always valued rules and regulations, and she had heard that no one had ever stayed overnight in Zhaochen Palace in the past three years.

She said softly, "Your Majesty, this is unreasonable."

Xiao Yu rested his chin on her forehead, gently stroking it: "My words are imperial edicts."

Ning Shuyan looked up at his straight nose, which seemed to reveal a firm personality and an irresistible aura.

She stopped talking, curled up in his arms like a docile cat, and the warmth seeped into her through his thin clothes, giving her a sense of peace.

Xiao Yu held Ning Shuyan's hand, and with his other hand, he gently traced her name in her palm.

Ning Shuyan examined the strokes of his calligraphy and asked with a smile, "Is Your Majesty writing the character '昭'?"

Xiao Yu held her soft hand and asked, "How is this character?"

A glint flashed in Ning Shuyan's eyes. Could it be that he...?

Ning Shuyan said gently, "Your Majesty, I think this character is very good. I wonder why Your Majesty asked about it."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's expression softened: "I also think it's excellent."

"The Chu Ci says, 'Youth is blessed, the sun shines brightly.' Brightness signifies brilliance, beauty, and warmth. I think this title is very suitable for Yan'er."

He didn't hear the person in his arms speak, and when he looked down, he saw that her eyes, which were shimmering with water, were full of astonishment.

Xiao Yu reached out and gently rubbed her cheek: "I intend to promote you to the rank of Jieyu and give you the title of Zhao."

She was somewhat stunned: "Why does Your Majesty suddenly want to promote me?"

"When you miscarried, I wanted to promote you, but the Empress said that you had only recently been promoted, and if you were promoted again, it might cause resentment among the other concubines... Will Yan'er blame me?"

Ning Shuyan shook her head: "How could that be? Your Majesty, I will not blame you."

Ning Shuyan lowered her eyes, realizing that it was the Empress who was behind it all.

She continued, "Then why did the Emperor suddenly bring it up tonight...?"

Xiao Yu wrapped his arms around her and patted her back, saying, "This is what you deserve."

Xiao Yu's eyes gradually became hazy. He realized that she had always been thinking about the child who was gone, and seeing such a scene today must have made her extremely sad.

She couldn't severely punish Consort Zhuang for sending people into her palace. She was naturally sensitive; though she said everything was fine on the surface, she was undoubtedly feeling wronged inside.

After thinking it over, this is the only way I can make it up to her.

As he thought about it, Xiao Yu gently kissed her smooth forehead.

Ning Shuyan smiled warmly: "I don't care about titles or ranks, as long as Your Majesty has me in your heart."

Xiao Yu smiled and patted her back.

After a long while, he suddenly said, "I may not be able to visit you often these days, so please take good care of yourself."

Ning Shuyan was half asleep when she suddenly heard Xiao Yu say something like that. Her eyelids were already drooping, and she gave a deep "hmm".

At this point, it's good to avoid the limelight as we're currently in the spotlight.